Wednesday, 24 August 2011

As a painter, Fuseli favoured fantastical and supernatural themes which dominated British culture from around 1770-1850. He pitched everything on an ideal scale, believing a certain amount of exaggeration necessary in the higher branches of historical painting. In this theory he was confirmed by the study of Michelangelo's works. As the teacher of Joseph Turner, the similarity between the two artists' style and subject matter is clearly visible.

The top image- The Nightmare 1781 was first exhibited to the public in 1882 and has been an icon of horror ever since. The image depicts a woman apparently deep in slumber, while a beast representative of the devil crouches over her and a ferocious looking horse stares on. The painting draws from folk lore and popular culture, medicine, concepts of the imagination and classical art to create a new kind of highly charged horror image. The commissions for the subsequent two paintings were received from Alderman Boydell, who was then organizing his famous Shakespeare Gallery. Both depicting scenes from A Midsummer Nights Dream, the ethereal, atmospheric and yet oddly sinister feelings that the paintings evoke in me especially draw me to them.

A work of probably my favourite artist, Turner paints a scene in which the story of Hero and Leander is portrayed. Based upon a Greek Myth, Hero is a priestess of Aphrodite who dwelt in a tower in Sestos, with Leander being a young man living on the opposite side of the shore from her. Leander fell in love with Hero, and would swim across the sea to be with her every night. Hero would light a lamp at the top of her tower to light his way. However one night the sea was particularly rough and the wind blew out the lamp which was guiding Leander, and he was drowned. Hero, stricken with grief cast herself into the sea after him and also died.

Turner is perhaps the best loved of the English Romantic artists (he's definitely my favourite) and he is best known as 'the painter of light' due to his increasing interest in brilliant colours as the main constituent of his paintings and his development in the free flowing quality of his brush strokes. This is another painting I couldn't tear my eyes away from, on loan from the national gallery to the Tate Britain for their exhibition on the Romantics.

Von Host specialised in depicting literary subjects with emphasis on the macabre and the supernatural. This picture relates to the legend of Faust, as retold by the German romantic playwright Goethe in his great poetic drama published in two parts in 1808 and 1832. Faust is a late medieval scholar with a thirst for ultimate knowledge who enters into a pact with the Devil, thereby pledging his soul.

I stood and looked at this work for ages when I saw it in person at the Tate Britain. It is as haunting as it is beautiful, and as frightening to behold as it is enthralling. A perfect example of a work of the Romantic movement, with its artist taking inspiration from Gothic literature. This is one of my favourite paintings that I've come across.

Sunday, 21 August 2011

This portrait is of Lilly Cole, who wears a porcelain mask which has been cast from her own face. Disfigured and cracked, the mask is symbolic of the idea of beauty and the pretence that surrounds the concept. Is beauty merely a mask that can be worn one day and removed the next, or attributed and just as easily withdrawn? It is a moving and sinister work, and with the porcelain mask, clothes worn and Lilly Cole's incredible red hair, it hints at the portraits painted by old masters throughout the centuries, and again making a reference to the changing ideology that surrounds the idea of what beauty is or means to behold.

I came accross this painting on one of my visits to Birmingham Art Gallery yesterday and in a room filled with beautiful and life size oil paintings this one immediately caught my attention. Albert Moore is renound for his ability to capture 'beautiful people in beautiful situations' and this picture I think typifies this notion. The painting depicts the same model three times over. This lack of physical variety causes the eye to skim the canvas, for no one figure pulls attention from another. Their robes dissolve into the fabric of the background, creating an expansive study of drapery and its physical idiosyncrasies. This apparent monotony actually creates a dream-like quality to the work, enhanced by the consistent color palette Moore employs. This dream like quality I feel is more pronounced and captivating in person, overall the air of a lazy afternoon spent day dreaming is insinuated. While a deeper reading of Moore's work is certainly possible, the painting likely depicts nothing more than "beautiful people in beautiful situations."

Tuesday, 16 August 2011

Never mind
I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you too
"Don't forget me", I beg
"I'll remember", you said
"Sometimes it lasts in love
But sometimes it hurts instead."
Sometimes it lasts in love
But sometimes it hurts instead

I had hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded
That for me it isn't over.

A portrait of Rembrandt's newly wedded wife, Saskia, posing as Flora, the Roman Goddess of Spring. The artists use of chiaroscuro (strong contrast between light and dark) is particularly effective and gives the illusion of three dimension and realism. This is a very captivating image with symbolic connotations of fertility and re-birth (Goddess of spring, flowers and the positioning of the hand over her stomach). I love Rembrandt's subtle use of colour, shadow and light, he greatly inspired the later impressionist movement of the 19thCentury, whose main concern was with the sensual depiction of reality and use of light and colour.

The photography of Cecil Beaton is one of the most valuable and informative record of the lives of the High Society in the twenties and thirties. Educated at Camberidge in art and history, he left early without completing his degree. However who would care about failing their degree when less than two years later employment by Vogue would be on the cards, your photography and design work regularly featured. You will know his work, even if you are unaware of it. The 20's and 30's were my favourite era in terms of style and fashion, Cecil Beaton was blessed to be surrounded by such beauty that he was free to capture in abundence.
-X-

Saturday, 4 June 2011

Tracey Emin. Probably the most controversial artist working today, and one whom controversy is attributed as much her art, as her painting is. Imagine locking yourself in your bedroom for fourteen days straight, you won't leave that room once. You will make sure you have enough food and water to last. Enough paint and canvas to work with, naturally. You will be eating, sleeping, going to the loo and working in here for two weeks, and on top of it all, your descent into near madness will be all caught on camera. Tracey Emin's two week painting therapy session (she'd developed a mental block against painting and this was an attempt to overcome it) resulted in a massive outpouring of autobiographical images and the discovery of her own unique painting style. The room in which she lived was extracted in its entirety, and now exists as an instillation work.
-X-

Monday, 30 May 2011

This beautiful Renaissance fresco (ceiling painting) is by Antonio Corregio. It depicts the Virgin Mary being lifted upwards amidst a vortex of musical angels. I just think that this painting is magical, painted upon the inside of the dome of Parma Cathedral in Italy, the swirling vortex draws the viewer into the composition, as opposed to one looking in upon the scene as though through a window as so many other interpretations of the Assumption do. The colours also, are majestic. The bright golden light at the summit of the dome is a focal point, to which all movement in the scene is leading. By all accounts, re-printed images of this work do not do it justice. I find the pictures of it beautiful, imagine what it would be like in the flesh...

Sunday, 22 May 2011

To any girl reading this, I refuse to believe that you haven't as some point fantasised about what your wedding day will be like, or at the very least envisioned what you shall be wearing. Well this picture, pretty much sums up my plan at the moment. Beach, sea, long hair, lots of lace and not an awful lot else.

Monday, 25 April 2011

This is one of my favourite paintings, combining several loves of mine, Shakespeare, nature and the Pre-Raphalites. Shakespeare was a frequent source of inspiration for Victorian painters, and Mallais illustration of Ophelia'stragic death in Hamlet, is one of the best known Pre-Raphelite works. What captures me about this image is the colour plallet employed. Soft pastel colours are juxtaposed with deep shadow and the dark murky water, creating a mood of great sadness and truth. It opitomises the Pre-Raphelite notion that respectable divine art could only be achieved if the artist focused upon the truth and what was real in the natural world.

Maysie is...

A nineteen year old girl who has an interest in art, theatre, photography and all things vintage. I was born in the wrong era, hence I spend most of my time looking to the past. I am currently studying Art History at University. An unfortunate characteristic of being incapable of coping with decision making meant that it took me long enough to choose one, but I got there in the end. I want to design a dress for Florence and my dearest ambition is to meet Tim Walker. If I achieve either of these two things in my lifetime I will die a very happy girl.

This blog is mainly for my benefit, a place to keep track of the inspiration and artists that I come across on my travels over the internet, city, country and very occasional the world. However if anyone other than myself ever happens to read this then hi, you are most welcome here, and I do hope that you find something that inspires you as much as it did me.

-X-

p.s Maysie likes...

London and it's food markets on a Saturday morning

All of the Julia Roberts movies, Pretty Woman in particular

my bedroom at about three in the afternoon when the sun shines through the blind